One of my hubby's favourite home made small butter cakes are these french madeleines as he is by the way a french man and he loves to eat these during Christmas time.....it is their tradition in his house and they get them as gifts as well.....among his friends and families.....it is some what quite similar with the malaysian kuih bahulu and the taste is softer and more lighter as well.....with a hint of lemon in this recipe as we love lemon zest in it......
Lemony French Madeleines
Ingredients :
4 oz unsalted butter
2 tbsps unsalted butter for greasing pan
8 oz cake flour
4 eggs
1 pinch of salt
5 oz sugar
2 tbsps lemon zest (zest of 1 large lemon)
1 tsp vanilla extract
2 tbsps icing sugar for dusting
Method :
Preheat the oven to 350 F / 180 C.
Melt the butter in a bowl in the microwave oven for about 1 minute and set aside to cool to room temperature. While the butter is cooling , measure all the other ingredients and grease the madeleine molds and then dust with some flour. Beat the eggs and salt on high speed till double in volume about 3 minutes. Continue to mix on high speed slowly adding the sugar in a steady stream and whip for another 2 minutes till mixture is ribbony and thick. With a spatula fold in the lemon zest and vanilla extract. Sprinkle the flour on top of the egg mixture and gently fold in . Now fold in the butter mixture gently just to bring them together. Spoon the batter into the molds , filling about 2/3 full for each mold.
Bake the madeleines for about 12 - 14 minutes ( 7 -10 minutes for smaller molds) till the edges are golden brown. Remove from the oven and unmold immediately. Cool on racks and dust with some icing sugar.
Lemon French Madeleines
